The Methodology of al-Qadi al-Nu‘man and al-Jawdhari in Their Works Risalat Iftitah al-Da‘wah and Sirat al-Ustadh Jawdhar: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The Islamic Maghreb has known several prominent figures who addressed the history of the Fatimid state, including Judge al-Nu'man in his book "The Inauguration of the Call" and al-Jawdhari in his book "The Biography of Professor Jawdhar." These two historians played an important role in the history of the Fatimid state, as each of them presented a detailed analytical study of the state's origins and establishment, from its entry into Morocco to its end. It  had a profound impact on all political, cultural, social, and economic activities. In this research, we will examine the comparative approach between the books "The Inauguration of the Call" and "The Biography of Professor Jawdhar," by examining the two books objectively and evaluating the success of the Ismaili call in Morocco at the hands of its preachers and thinkers. We will also examine the methods of the two historians and the nature of their writings, and attempt to shed light on the most important facts reached by the researcher in comparing the methods, and how the two historians were able to present historical events from their own perspectives.  From this perspective, the topic was studied and divided into several points. First, an objective study of the approaches of al-Nu'man and al-Jawdhari; second, a comparative study of the nature of the two books; third, the evaluation of al-Qadi al-Nu'man and al-Jawdhari of the Ismaili da'wah; and fourth, the letters and speeches, followed by how they dealt with oral tradition.